BICOM

Armed Shiite militants in Lebanon said yesterday that they had captured more than 20 Syrians and would hold them until their relatives seized by rebels inside Syria are freed. The tensions are a blunt reminder of how Syria’s civil war can quickly spill into neighbouring states.

Lebanon is divided between supporters and opponents of President Bashar Assad’s regime. The country, which was devastated by a 15-year civil war that Syria was deeply involved in, has in recent months witnessed clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian groups.

In Syria, rebel fighters have adopted kidnapping foreigners from countries allied to the regime as a tactic to coerce backers of Assad. In May, Syrian rebels captured 11 Lebanese Shiites shortly after they crossed from Turkey on their way to Lebanon. Earlier this month, rebels abducted 48 Iranians near Damascus.

The Syrian rebels are predominantly Sunni whereas Assad and his inner circle are dominated by Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

One of the Lebanese prisoners in Syria, Hassane Salim al-Mikdad, appeared in a video released by rebels over the past few days. In the video he said he is a member of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group allied with Iran and with Syria. The captive, who appeared to have bruises on his face, said he was sent to Syria to fight with Assad regime forces. Hezbollah has denied al-Mikdad is a member and his family claimed he has been living in Syria for more than a year.

Yesterday Abu Ali al-Mikdad, a relative, told reporters in Beirut that his Shiite clan has abducted “more than 20 Syrians” including a senior member of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA). Later Wednesday, the Beirut-based TV station Al-Mayadeen aired a video purporting to show two of the abducted Syrians who said they are members of the FSA. “I call them (FSA) upon to free the prisoners they are holding because they are innocent,” said one of the two captured men shown on TV who identified himself as Maher Hassan Rabih.

Syrian activists based in London say more than 20,000 people have been killed since the start of Syria’s revolt, inspired by other Arab Spring uprisings against autocratic regimes in the region. The conflict has slowly morphed into a full-blown civil war.